Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Restrictions on Frequency of Limited Entry Permit Transfers; Sorting Catch by Species; Retention of Fish Tickets

Resumen

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement management measures recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) that restrict the frequency of limited entry permit transfers to once every 12 months, with transfers taking effect on the first day of a cumulative landings limit period. This rule would also require the sorting of all groundfish species with trip limits, size limits, quotas, or harvest guidelines at the point of landing, and the retention of landings receipts on board the vessel that has made those landings. This proposed rule is intended to constrain the introduction of new fishing effort into the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries, and to improve the enforceability of Federal and state fisheries regulations. This action would be taken under the authority of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).